# Full Steam Ahead explained — Psmith, Journalist

> Chapter companion for Psmith, Journalist by P. G. Wodehouse.

## What happens

Psmith returns to the office and meets Kid Brady, a boxer from Wyoming. Billy Windsor explains the corruption in the boxing world and decides to back Brady. Psmith then proposes a campaign against the tenement housing abuses in Pleasant Street, aiming to expose the corrupt landlords. They plan to write a series of articles using general invective to stir public outrage.

## Themes in this chapter

### Social Reform and Justice

Psmith and Billy Windsor decide to expose the corrupt tenement housing system in Pleasant Street, aiming to bring about reform.

### Journalism and Power

The chapter highlights the power of the press to investigate and expose social injustices, using Cosy Moments as a platform.

### Courage and Risk

Psmith and Billy Windsor take on powerful interests by launching a campaign against tenement landlords, risking retaliation.

## Character check-ins

### Psmith

Returns to the office, meets Kid Brady, and proposes a tenement exposé campaign.

### Billy Windsor

Introduces Kid Brady, discusses boxing corruption, and agrees to back the tenement exposé.

### Kid Brady

A boxer from Wyoming seeking fights in New York; Billy Windsor offers support.

### Pugsy Maloney

Mentioned as whistling in the office; Psmith asks him to stop.

## Key lines

> If the kid had a manager, he’d get all the fights he wanted. And the manager would get nearly all the money.

Billy Windsor explains that without a manager, Kid Brady can't get fights, and even with one, the manager would take most of the earnings.

_Highlights the corruption in boxing promotion._

> What we want most is some big topic. That’s the only way to get a paper going.

Billy Windsor emphasizes the need for a major investigative series to boost the paper's popularity.

_Reflects the muckraking journalism strategy._

> The main problem, then, appears to be the discovery of the lessee, lad?

Psmith identifies the key challenge as finding the person who actually owns the tenement buildings.

_Sets up the investigative goal of the exposé._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/psmith_journalist_se/chapters/ix-full-steam-ahead
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/psmith_journalist_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/psmith_journalist_se/chapters